Naperville smart meter foes may have plug pulled on referendum

Smart meter advocate calls petition invalid

officials to meet with both sides

Opponents of smart electric meters in Naperville may not be able to get a referendum on the March ballot if an objection filed this week is upheld.

Resident Bill Dawe, who filed the objection Tuesday afternoon, alleges the Naperville Smart Meter Awareness group's referendum petition contains signatures from people outside city limits and a two-part referendum question, both of which he believes make it invalid.

"It was done incorrectly as best I am aware, so it shouldn't proceed," Dawe said Wednesday.

The smart meter opponents filed a petition with 4,209 signatures in November, hoping to get a nonbinding referendum on the March ballot with a question reading, "Shall the City of Naperville immediately and permanently stop the implementation of the $22 million smart meter project and dismantle all related equipment?"

The group has been vocal about health, security and privacy concerns associated with the meters, which the city plans to start installing Wednesday. City officials say the smart grid project will be a more efficient and cost-effective way to run Naperville's electrical network.

Half of the project's $22 million cost is covered by a federal grant.

Smart meter opponent Jennifer Stahl said she believes the referendum objections are "grasping at straws."

"Our question ultimately is what are people afraid of? … With 4,200 people who have said they want to vote on this, what is so bad to let the will of the people be heard? Why is it they would want to challenge this?" Stahl said.

Dawe said that although he is a member of Naperville for Clean Energy and Conservation, which has supported the smart grid project, he filed the objection as an individual with the help of his attorney and does not want to see the project halted.

"I think the project will continue to benefit the quality of life in the city, cut down on expenses for the city and subsequently the individual residents," he said.

City officials are scheduled to meet with Dawe and the Naperville Smart Meter Awareness group Tuesday to review the objections.